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Table of Contents
About The Book
You probably don’t think much about skulls.
So what’s the big deal about them?
Well, every head
of every person
you’ve ever seen
has a skull inside.
And that includes YOU!
This smart, skull-positive story cheerfully dispels any fears kids might have about their skeletons, flipping our view of skulls from a spooky symbol to a fascinating, cool, and crucial part of our bodies.
About The Illustrator
Scott Campbell’s paintings have appeared in numerous shows and publications around the world. He has created award-winning comics, such as “Igloo Head and Tree Head,” which appeared in the Flight anthology, and is the illustrator of Zombie in Love and Zombie in Love 2 + 1 by Kelly DiPucchio; East Dragon, West Dragon by Robyn Eversole; and If Dogs Run Free by Bob Dylan. He is the author and illustrator of Hug Machine. Scott lives in New York City. Visit him at PyramidCar.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (July 23, 2019)
- Length: 40 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534414006
- Grades: P - 3
- Ages: 4 - 8
- Lexile ® 600L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
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Raves and Reviews
"This highly entertaining disquisition reminds readers, things that seem frightening at first can become quite wonderful once you get to know them."
– Publisher's Weekly, April 8, 2019
"Balances gracefully on the edge between comically informative and spooky; audiences wary of scares may find the straightforward cheer reassuring, while those who embrace the skeletal dark side will still have plenty of bony visages to admire. . . . This has obvious potential for Halloween/Día de los Muertos use, but it also has entertaining year-round possibilities for kids to get into their own headspace—literally."
– BCCB
"With snappy writing Thornburgh describes a skull’s importance (it’s “a car seat for your brain”) and its functions (it gives a face its shape; it holds teeth in place; and more). . . . Campbell packs plenty of humor into his muted watercolor illustrations (the grim reaper sips from a juice box) in this jaunty paean to human skulls."
– The Horn Book
"A page of 'Cool Skull Facts!' opposite a final, fairly anatomically correct image gives this good odds of becoming a STEM and storytime favorite. Readers who have never thought of it before will agree: 'Take care of your skull, because you only get one.'"
– Kirkus Reviews
"Guaranteed to get kids giggling and proclaiming, 'I love my skull!'"
– Booklist
"Skulls may often be associated with death and mortality, but this life-affirming book is breezy and ebullient. You can say it again: Skulls were never more fun."
– BookPage
"The carefree tone and tidbits of humor, such as the girl’s love of grilled cheese sandwiches, make this an amusing introduction for young students of the human body."
– School Library Journal
"Campbell's sweetly absurd illustrations will help little ones learn not to fear the Reaper, whom he shows contentedly sipping a juice box. The quirky watercolor scenes support Thornburgh's offbeat narrative perfectly. . . . Between the popularity of Halloween and el Día de los Muertos, some families will find Skulls! a useful tool for comforting and educating young children who may find the holidays' skeleton-heavy imagery unsettling. Parents and teachers will also likely appreciate the list of skull facts in the end matter, ideal for engaging a skull's contents. This authoritatively positive demystification of cranial bones—with its recurring theme of grilled cheese appreciation--is sure to have preschool through early elementary-aged readers shouting, 'I love my skull!'"
– Shelf Awareness
"Amusing and engaging. Through clever comparisons (a skull is “a car seat for your brain”) and dialogue, the book brilliantly explains the purpose of this set of bones."
– Parents Magazine
Awards and Honors
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List
- New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
- Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Reading List (PA)
- Topaz Nonfiction Reading List (TX)
- Beehive Award Nominee
- Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Nominee
Resources and Downloads
Activity Sheets
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Skulls! Hardcover 9781534414006
- Author Photo (jpg): Blair Thornburgh Photograph © Chris Urie(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit